Spring Break - no snow left in the Sierra this year headed to Yosemite for some sightseeing and climbing. Weather was great, cool but sunny(ish). Met up with the Latifs.



Swan Slab was on the climbing agenda. Bouldered a bit, then Steve headed up Penelope's Crack with Kitty belaying. Yikes! Midway up Steve comes off and pitches headfirst for a 15' fall. The last piece holds and Kitty catches hims before he hits the ground. Next try is good and he's up. Anisa, Kitty and me up next.





Steve on lead, Anisa following





Next up Kitty takes a go at leading Hanging Flake, John laybacks up behind her. We go the rest of the way up and rap down Penelope's Gully.










Everyone makes the short hike below the Lower Falls and Steve fires up the first pitch of the Jamcrack Route. Kitty follows and is lowered off, we ask Steve if we can pull the rope and he says "sure" apparently thinking we are kidding but we do! Still a ton of gear up there at the belay it turns out. No big deal! Steve re-leads, I go up as it is getting dark, clean everything and rap off the rings. The moves in the first 10 feet are the crux, then bomber jams to the ledge. Fun route.



Steve leading, Kitty following the Jamcrack route

Skiing 2007/8

The Winter of 2007/8 the kids and I got out skiing and snowboarding more than ever and had a lot of fun.






We started at Mt Baker over the holidays visiting my folks/sister/brother and the cousins, then had some fun trips to the Tahoe area (Boreal, Tahoe Donner and Sugar Bowl) and Badger Pass in Yosemite. The kids got WAY better on their boards and I think have left skiing behind forever.

I'm still a green circle gumby on skis although I can get down most blues (just don't have that much fun). The last trip of the season to Sugar Bowl was a little glimpse of the future. The kids did a warm up run or two with me then said "see you later Dad" and headed off to some more challenging slopes...




Badger Pass on a sunny day